When the Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott on Monday morning, the organization decided to retain general manager Brandon Beane. The Bills not only kept Beane, but promoted him to president of football operations.
When the NFL world heard this news, many were simply stunned that it happened. The Bills fired McDermott after serving as the team’s head coach for nine seasons.
NFL World Stunned By Brandon Beane’s Promotion
On Monday, Brett Kollmann, creator of All 32 and co-host of the Bootleg Football Podcast, headed out to X and shared some interesting information.
Kollmann wrote on X, “Beane got a promotion after this?”, and listed some statistics for Bills players.
Beane got a promotion after this? https://t.co/FOKQ4X3B2j pic.twitter.com/7hgRpixIpd
– Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) January 19, 2026
Air Raid | Buffalo, through their account on X, was totally brutal in their criticism of Beane, even through their comments calling Beane a “snake.”
Brandon Beane being a total 🐍 and winning this power struggle was worst case scenario. He was way more of a problem than the head coach. It shoulda been them both out the door or the GM fired. Time will tell, but Sabres-esque Terry Pegula ownership blunder imo pic.twitter.com/g2y5zyArdm
– Air Raid | Buffalo (@TheBillsGuys) January 19, 2026
“Brandon Beane being a total (snake) and winning this power struggle was worst case scenario,” the account posted. “He was way more of a problem than the head coach. It shoulda been them both out the door or the GM fired. Time will tell, but Sabres-esque Terry Pegula ownership blunder imo”.
And the Air Raid | Buffalo account had more to say about Beane and his job that he’s done with the Bills. The account also posted on X, “Brandon Beane has swung and missed huge at wide receiver and defensive line in free agency and the draft. He has us in a shitty cap situation, and we don’t even have all that much star power to show for it. He is still employed. Explain this to me? I don’t get it.”
Gregg Rosenthal of the NFL Daily Podcast was also perplexed by what the Bills did for Beane in promoting him within the organization. Rosenthal headed out to X and wrote, “The Bills announce Beane isn’t just staying, he’s PROMOTED. If he could negotiate with wide receivers like he does with ownership, they will really have something!”
The Bills announce Beane isn’t just staying, he’s PROMOTED. If he could negotiate with wide receivers like he does with ownership, they will really have something!
– Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) January 19, 2026
Joe Marino of the “Locked On Bills” podcast called Beane staying around while McDermott was fired “crazy.” Marino posted on X, “Beane surviving McDermott is crazy to me. Go Bills.”
Marcus Mosher of the “Locked On Cowboys” podcast believes that the Bills needed to make a change in the organization. Mosher wrote, “I think the Bills had to make some sort of change. Running things back in 2026 was just never an option. But someone tell me why Brandon Beane should be safe after how he built that defense + WR room.”
According to the PFSN NFL Offense Impact metrics, measured throughout the regular season, the Bills’ offense, led by quarterback Josh Allen, had an impact score of 86.5 and graded out to a B.
Richard Deitsch, who hosts the “Sports Media Podcast” and has written for The Athletic and Sports Illustrated, offered some insights into what might have happened with Beane in Buffalo.
Deitsch posted on X, “One of the great skills in modern business — and I have seen this so many times in sports media — is the ability to manage up. To manage your boss. It can often more important than your own skill set and output. I now know Brandon Beane is good at this.”
Needless to say, many voices in the NFL world are not really happy to see what the Bills’ organization did regarding Beane. Criticism will continue in his direction for some time to come.
